Chapter Summaries

Firefly ate the Oak Cake Rolls Lin Shuang sent and discovered they suppressed her Entropy Loss Syndrome, giving her the chance to live outside her armor. After Lin Shuang endured an intense training session with Acheron, Acheron carried her off for a bath.

• Lin Shuang sent Firefly five Oak Cake Rolls through Silver Wolf's teleportation link.
• Firefly ate half a cake roll, and Sam's scan found that her Entropy Loss Syndrome symptoms had fallen by 95 percent.
• Sam's analysis estimated the cake rolls could let Firefly spend her days outside her armor for at least a month with four hours of daily treatment.
• Firefly became overwhelmed by the results and messaged Lin Shuang to ask where the cake rolls came from and what they could do.
• Acheron told Lin Shuang she had endured one system hour of Nihility training and had improved quickly.
• Acheron picked up the exhausted Lin Shuang and carried her to take a bath.

Firefly discovered that Lin Shuang’s cake rolls temporarily suppressed her entropy loss syndrome, and Kafka suggested taking her out to enjoy her newfound freedom. On the Xianzhou, Lin Shuang learned of the cake rolls’ effect and worried that the Stellaron Hunters’ coming attack on Herta Space Station would prevent Herta from helping Firefly.

• Firefly left her armor, ate Lin Shuang’s cake roll, and found that it suppressed her entropy loss syndrome.
• Kafka shared a piece of the cake roll, told Firefly to keep the rest, and suggested inviting Lin Shuang on an outing.
• Lin Shuang emerged from the bath with Acheron and read messages from Firefly and Kafka describing the cake rolls’ effect.
• Lin Shuang considered asking Herta to investigate the cake rolls and wondered whether Ruan Mei could treat Firefly.
• Acheron warned Lin Shuang to be careful around the Stellaron Hunters, and Lin Shuang remembered their planned attack on Herta Space Station.

Acheron planned to leave the Xianzhou and travel freely, returning to Lin Shuang each evening to help her cultivate The Permanence. The next day, Lin Shuang met Firefly for their date, while Silver Wolf complained about being made to provide free teleportation and asked Lin Shuang to play games with her that night.

• Acheron told Lin Shuang she planned to leave the Xianzhou and return each evening to help her strengthen The Permanence.
• Lin Shuang accepted Acheron's arrangement, then arranged with Firefly to meet the next day and bring leftover cake rolls.
• Kafka held Silver Wolf out of reach of Firefly's phone as Silver Wolf protested that she minded helping with the date.
• Acheron left for a barren planet after telling Lin Shuang she was going to Penacony to return a Galaxy Ranger's personal effects before the Charmony Festival.
• Lin Shuang slept until noon, then Silver Wolf's portal tumbled her onto a sofa beside Silver Wolf and Firefly.
• Silver Wolf said she had been made to work for Lin Shuang for free and invited Lin Shuang to play games that night.

Lin Shuang and Firefly reunited in reality on Azur Star and went out together, where Firefly introduced herself formally and took Lin Shuang on a date. After learning that the cake roll’s effects were lasting longer than expected, they visited a giant Herta statue, and Firefly prepared to show Lin Shuang something on her phone.

• Firefly reunited with Lin Shuang, introduced herself as a Stellaron Hunter, and held Lin Shuang’s hand as they left their hideout on Azur Star.
• Firefly showed Lin Shuang the city’s greenery and Herta landmark statues, and Lin Shuang complimented Firefly’s makeup.
• Firefly awkwardly started an automated flying vehicle after jokingly waiting for Lin Shuang to tease her about not having a driver’s license.
• Lin Shuang asked about the cake roll, and Firefly said its active substance had barely diminished, allowing her to stay outside longer than expected.
• Lin Shuang and Firefly visited a hundred-meter Herta statue, then Firefly took out her phone and showed Lin Shuang its screen.

Firefly and Lin Shuang finished a carefully planned date on Azur Star, where Lin Shuang realized Firefly had arranged the day to thank her. Firefly asked to plan their future dates as well, and Lin Shuang agreed before they headed toward dinner.

• Lin Shuang thanked Firefly for planning their date and offered to arrange the next one.
• Firefly admitted she had planned the outing, and Lin Shuang's affection for her rose to 75.
• Firefly gathered the courage to ask if she could keep handling the arrangements for their next date.
• Lin Shuang agreed, and Firefly took her hand and led her toward a restaurant Silver Wolf had helped choose.

Lin Shuang said goodbye to Firefly and Silver Wolf after giving Firefly a box of Oak Cake Rolls and revealing she could teleport using an ability resembling Silver Wolf’s Aether Editing. Later, Acheron returned to Lin Shuang’s home covered in blood after fighting the Swarm, and Lin Shuang helped her clean up and asked if she was hurt.

• Lin Shuang gave Firefly the remaining Oak Cake Rolls and prepared to return home by teleporting.
• Silver Wolf recognized Lin Shuang’s pixel-style teleport as Aether Editing and learned that Lin Shuang had gained the ability through their contract.
• Lin Shuang returned home and teased Acheron into sending her a voice message calling Lin Shuang “Big Sis.”
• Acheron appeared beside Lin Shuang covered in blood and carrying her sword, and Lin Shuang led her to the bathroom.
• Acheron told Lin Shuang that she had fought a small group of the Swarm, and Lin Shuang asked whether she was all right.

Acheron returned from fighting the Swarm covered in blood, and Lin Shuang helped her wash her hair before reflecting on how dangerous the encounter must have been. As unrest spread across the Xianzhou Luofu and Lin Shuang began discussing a plan with Jing Yuan, Firefly contacted her and asked whether she was still there.

• Acheron told Lin Shuang she had defeated a small Swarm group, and Lin Shuang ushered her into the shower and washed her bloody clothes.
• Lin Shuang realized Acheron had called her big sister while in her fully unleashed state, then drew a Hazard Trigger that could release her Herrscher Core's limits at the cost of bodily injury.
• Acheron asked Lin Shuang to help wash the blood from her hair, and Lin Shuang worried about the dangers Acheron faced before Acheron promised to save her if she was in danger.
• Over the next two days, rumors and unrest spread across the Xianzhou Luofu, keeping Qingque, Tingyun, and the Six Commissions busy as Lin Shuang suspected the Abundant Doses were stirring trouble.
• Lin Shuang began contacting Jing Yuan to discuss a plan against the Abundant Doses, but Firefly messaged her to ask whether she was still on the Xianzhou Luofu.

Lin Shuang arranged to meet Firefly on the Xianzhou and planned to use a Tarot reading to uncover clues about Penacony, while Phantylia secretly traveled to the Luofu intending to kill and possess her. Lin Shuang then collected the greatsword commissioned by Jing Yuan and tested its ability to channel her powers.

• Firefly told Lin Shuang she would arrive on the Xianzhou the next day, hoping to recruit her as an ally in the struggle within the Family.
• Lin Shuang considered using a Tarot reading to learn whether Firefly or Sunday was a mole in Penacony.
• Phantylia decided to target Lin Shuang as a vessel and secretly possessed a passenger traveling to the Luofu.
• The Crafting Division notified Lin Shuang that Jing Yuan's commissioned sword was ready, so she went to collect it from Master Gongshu.
• Lin Shuang tested the pale-cyan greatsword and found that it could channel her varied powers, giving her a new primary weapon.

Lin Shuang welcomed Firefly to the Xianzhou and brought her to her home to discuss Penacony. As she began to explain that she had never visited Penacony, Lin Shuang sensed grave danger from Firefly’s coat, while Phantylia’s hidden sparks had followed Firefly through a teleportation wormhole.

• Lin Shuang picked up Firefly at the port, where Cloud Knights inspected her and passengers recognized her despite her disguise.
• Lin Shuang opened a teleportation wormhole and took Firefly to her secluded home in Changle Heaven.
• Phantylia spotted the wormhole and secretly attached sparks to Firefly’s coat before the passage closed.
• Lin Shuang sensed grave danger when she passed Firefly’s hanging coat, but served her tea and sat down to talk.
• Firefly asked Lin Shuang what she knew about Penacony, and Lin Shuang brought out Tarot Cards before saying she had never been there.

Lin Shuang fought Phantylia after the Lord Ravager attacked her and Firefly, then unleashed the Heliobus's power from the Full Load Bottle to exploit Phantylia's nature. The battle escalated into a towering pillar of fire over Changle Heaven as Phantylia swallowed the Nihility-tainted Heliobus.

• Phantylia appeared during Lin Shuang's Tarot reading with Firefly, and her reversed Wheel of Fortune card prompted Lin Shuang to warn her of misfortune.
• Phantylia trapped Lin Shuang and Firefly in an illusion and tried to take Firefly's heart, but Lin Shuang dispelled the illusion, struck Phantylia, and shielded Firefly.
• Phantylia invaded Lin Shuang's body and tried to make her a vessel, so Lin Shuang released the limiter on the Herrscher Core and drew out the Heliobus's power.
• A huge pillar of blue-green fire erupted over Changle Heaven, drawing the attention of Guinaifen, Sushang, and Qingque.
• Lin Shuang used the Nihility-tainted Heliobus from the Full Load Bottle as bait, and Phantylia instinctively swallowed it.

Lin Shuang used a Nihility-corrupted Heliobus to wound Phantylia, who tried to flee before Jing Yuan arrived. As Jing Yuan attacked, Lin Shuang combined Acheron's knife with her greatsword and felt Acheron appear behind her, guiding her hand.

• Phantylia fled Lin Shuang's body after discovering the Heliobus's Nihility, and Lin Shuang charged at her with a Nihility-infused greatsword.
• Lin Shuang struck Phantylia, whose reactions and strength had been weakened by the Nihility.
• Phantylia decided to retreat, while Lin Shuang waited anxiously for Jing Yuan and considered using Acheron's knife.
• Jing Yuan and the Lightning-Lord appeared in Phantylia's escape route, and Jing Yuan commanded the Lightning-Lord to attack.
• Lin Shuang struck Acheron's knife against her greatsword, transforming its blade with Nihility, and felt Acheron guiding her from behind.

Lin Shuang used Acheron’s guidance to wound Phantylia and absorb most of her power into the Full Load Bottle, though Phantylia escaped. As Fu Xuan took the weakened Lin Shuang and Firefly to recover, Firefly realized they had survived a battle with a Lord Ravager and that Lin Shuang had made her suffer a major loss.

• Lin Shuang unleashed a Nihility-infused slash alongside Jing Yuan’s attack, tearing Phantylia apart and forcing her to discard most of her body to escape.
• Phantylia hid her retreat in raging flames, but Lin Shuang used the Full Load Bottle to absorb most of the flames and Phantylia’s power, stabilizing Changle Heaven.
• Jing Yuan confirmed that Phantylia had escaped gravely wounded, while Lin Shuang kept the upgraded bottle as a trump card.
• Jing Yuan asked Fu Xuan to take Lin Shuang and Firefly somewhere to recuperate, and Fu Xuan scolded Lin Shuang for fighting a Lord Ravager.
• Firefly realized she had survived a Lord Ravager’s battlefield and that Lin Shuang had inflicted a major loss on Phantylia.

After the battle with Phantylia, Lin Shuang sent Firefly away and let Acheron comfort her while she recovered from the corrosion of Nihility. Acheron learned how recklessly Lin Shuang had fought and examined the bottle containing Phantylia’s power, warning that it might carry serious risks.

• Fu Xuan arranged temporary accommodations for Lin Shuang and Firefly, then left to handle the damage and aftermath of Phantylia’s attack.
• Lin Shuang declined Firefly’s offer to care for her and warned her to get examined at the Alchemy Commission because of the power she had used.
• Once Firefly left, Lin Shuang summoned Acheron, who held her and asked why she had not called for help during the fight.
• Lin Shuang recounted how she and Jing Yuan had repelled Phantylia, and Acheron scolded her for facing a Lord Ravager head-on.
• Acheron examined the bottle holding Phantylia’s power and warned that its Heliobus nature and Destruction energy could pose dangers.
• Lin Shuang explained how to use the bottle and told Acheron she trusted her.

Acheron revealed her true name, Raiden Bosenmori Mei, and allowed Lin Shuang to call her Gepard as they shared a tender moment. After warning Lin Shuang not to recklessly face powerful enemies alone, Acheron examined the Full Load Bottle and tested its contained power of Destruction.

• Acheron’s Affection rose to 88 as Lin Shuang assured her of her trust, and Acheron admitted she wanted Lin Shuang to remember her true name.
• Acheron’s hair turned ash-white as she revealed her name as Raiden Bosenmori Mei, and Lin Shuang asked to call her Gepard in private.
• Acheron accepted the nickname and held Lin Shuang’s hand against her head while Lin Shuang wished she could hug her.
• Acheron told Lin Shuang not to push herself by facing a Lord Ravager alone, and Lin Shuang acknowledged that she had been alone until Jing Yuan arrived.
• Acheron shook the Full Load Bottle and tested its contained power of Destruction, finding it docile and safely constrained.

Lin Shuang recovered at home while Acheron cared for her, and she told Danshu that Phantylia had been badly wounded and escaped. After Bailu treated Lin Shuang, Acheron prepared a medicinal bath and undressed her to carry her to the bathroom, leaving Lin Shuang embarrassed by Acheron's lack of shame.

• Acheron stayed with Lin Shuang as Bailu arrived to examine her injuries and prescribed medicine and rest.
• Bailu panicked when Alchemy Commission staff came looking for her, and Lin Shuang helped her hide before telling her attendant that Bailu had already left.
• Danshu asked what had injured Lin Shuang, and Lin Shuang revealed that Phantylia had escaped but was likely even more badly hurt.
• Acheron prepared a medicinal bath, then stripped Lin Shuang and carried her naked to the bathroom despite her protests.

Lin Shuang recovered enough to walk after Acheron cared for her, but using her power still caused her severe pain. She mourned the sword damaged by Nihility, received gifts from Tingyun, and welcomed a tired Firefly, who had come to check on her.

• Acheron watched over Lin Shuang as she soaked in medicinal water, then cared for her until she could get out of bed the next morning.
• Lin Shuang reconnected the Full Load Bottle and found faint signs that its two heliobi were merging, while no new consciousness had appeared.
• Lin Shuang examined the Nihility-damaged sword, realized its broken structure could not be repaired by simply adding The Permanence's power, and decided to keep it rather than destroy it.
• Tingyun messaged Lin Shuang to check on her and sent gifts, including a scented sachet that reminded Lin Shuang of Tingyun.
• Firefly visited Lin Shuang, confirmed she was recovering, and said Miss Qingzu had contacted her to apologize for the previous day's events.

Lin Shuang read Firefly’s Strength card and agreed to accompany her to Penacony to investigate the truth behind events there. After arranging to discuss payment later, Firefly showed Lin Shuang her ideas for three songs.

• Firefly drew the Strength card, and Lin Shuang interpreted it as a sign of resilience, bold action, and a major role in Penacony’s events.
• Firefly invited Lin Shuang to Penacony in her personal capacity to help investigate the truth, and Lin Shuang accepted.
• The system recorded Firefly’s increased affection for Lin Shuang and awarded Lin Shuang a green-tier draw for their new employer relationship.
• Firefly said her brother Sunday would send Lin Shuang an official Invitation, and they agreed to address each other by name.
• Firefly presented Lin Shuang with several sheets of music containing ideas for three songs.

Lin Shuang recovered at home, learned music from Firefly, and drew a new combat skill that required her to sing for its buffs. Qingque visited with gifts and asked Lin Shuang to tell her what had happened during the battle that left a huge scar across Changle Heaven’s sky.

• Firefly taught Lin Shuang to read music and stayed until evening.
• Fu Xuan checked on Lin Shuang, explained Jing Yuan had wanted to visit, and sent Qingque with gifts.
• Lin Shuang drew a skill that let her play songs to buff herself, provided she sang and recorded them.
• Qingque arranged to visit Lin Shuang and asked her to help secure a day off for tile-playing the next day.
• Qingque arrived with gifts, saw Lin Shuang was recovering, and asked who had made the enormous slash in the sky.

Lin Shuang spent time playing mahjong with Qingque and Silver Wolf, then let Acheron supervise her medicinal baths while she recovered. Over the following days on the Xianzhou, she trained her Grand Void Sword Qi and regained most of her strength.

• Lin Shuang invited Silver Wolf to join Qingque for mahjong, and the three played until Qingque left stuffed and eager to play again the next day.
• Silver Wolf told Lin Shuang that her enormous slash had drawn attention across the Xianzhou Alliance and asked whether she had accomplished what she came to do.
• Acheron insisted on supervising Lin Shuang's medicinal bath, warning that her injuries and the power of The Permanence might cause an unpredictable rebirth process.
• Lin Shuang spent several days training her Grand Void Sword Qi, using the powers of The Nihility and The Permanence to advance toward the second realm, dustless.
• Lin Shuang mostly recovered and could use her Herrscher Core in a fight, though she still needed a few more days before unleashing its full power.

Lin Shuang accepted a Jade Seal from Jing Yuan as a symbol of friendship with the Luofu, while clarifying that the alliance did not automatically include Acheron. Jing Yuan and Fu Xuan asked how she would deal with Danshu, and Lin Shuang explained that Danshu should face justice for her crimes while also being given a lawful way to pursue justice for the abuse she suffered as a child.

• Lin Shuang prepared paperwork for a tourist trip to Azur Star and visited the Divination Department after Fu Xuan invited her.
• Jing Yuan offered Lin Shuang a Jade Seal in recognition of her help to the Luofu, and she accepted it after confirming it represented friendship with her alone.
• After Jing Yuan sent Qingzu and Yanqing away, he and Fu Xuan asked Lin Shuang for her views on Danshu and Abundant Doses.
• Lin Shuang said Danshu should be dealt with according to Xianzhou law, then explained that Danshu's past suffering did not excuse her crimes or erase the wrongs done to her.
• Lin Shuang said she had proposed placing Danshu in the Department of Civil Affairs so she could pursue justice for Heavenly Defect sufferers and seek lawful redress for her own childhood abuse.